Top Global Executives and Trade Envoys from More Than 30 Nations Arriving in St. Louis for International Business Summit

St. Louis, Missouri, USA … Trade envoys from more than 30 nations who want to do business with Missouri firms will join top global executives at World Trade Day, a major international business summit hosted in St. Louis on September 21, 2006.

"The World’s Super Economies – Doing Business in China, India & the European Union” is the theme of this year’s World Trade Day St. Louis conference, which is open to businesses, non-profit organizations and the public.

“Foreign trade representatives and business leaders are arriving in St. Louis to make new business contacts at this high-profile trade conference,” said Stewart Dahlberg, Chairman of The St. Louis Regional International Partnership, which is organizing the event along with the Missouri District Export Council.

“Keynote presenters will include business, economic and diplomatic officials who are experienced in current business environments for large and small enterprises in Europe, India and China,” said Mr. Dahlberg. “We also are pleased to welcome the Honorable Charlie A. Dooley, St. Louis County Executive, who will address the gathering.

“World Trade Day is a cost-efficient way for companies in the St. Louis region to make new international business contacts and build sales opportunities,” Mr. Dahlberg added. Some of the World Trade Day conference speakers will include:

Stephen Burrows, President & CEO, Anheuser-Busch International, St. Louis, Missouri

Shantanu Srivastava, Managing Director, Ishan International, Delhi, India

David Bohigian, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

Larry E. Christensen, Vice President-Export Controls, JP Morgan Chase Vastera, Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Arun Kumar, Consul General, India, Chicago, Illinois

William Lawton, Senior Trade Specialist, Asia-Pacific, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

Jorik Ittmann, Director of International Development Worldwide, LaserBand, LLC, St. Louis, Missouri

David Graham, President & CEO, Lubri-Loy, Inc., O’Fallon, Missouri

David Saliga, International Sales Manager, Code3 Public Safety Equipment, Inc, St. Louis, Missouri

Ted Simmons, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Global Brand Consultant, Arnold Worldwide, Boston, Massachusetts

More than 30 foreign trade representatives will be available for individual meetings and presentations from 9:00 a.m-4:00 p.m. In addition, government-sponsored incentives and options for joining trade missions will be presented. Some of the participating trade nations include:

Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium China France Georgia Hong Kong India Kazakhstan Kyrgyz Republic Malaysia Philippines Poland Russia The Netherlands Taiwan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine United Kingdom United States

The day-long trade event will occur at the Sheraton St. Louis City Centre Hotel at 400 South 14th Street in downtown St. Louis. It opens with a Continental breakfast and registration at 7:30 a.m. Registration is $95 per person for all presentations, keynote speeches, breakfast, the World Trade Day luncheon and private meetings with foreign trade envoys. A CD of presentations will be given to all who attend.

For an optional registration fee of $150, registrants may attend the September 21 conference and also enjoy a Mississippi riverboat dinner cruise and cocktail reception with foreign trade representatives on Wednesday, September 20, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Transportation to and from the St. Louis Sheraton City Centre Hotel and the paddlewheel-style riverboat will be provided.

Conference sponsorship opportunities are available. For information, please call Stewart Dahlberg at 001.314.537.2209.

World Trade Day is co-hosted by The Saint Louis Regional International Partnership (SLRIP) and the Missouri District Export Council (MODEC). SLRIP is a not-for-profit group that promotes international trade, education and cultural exchange to improve economic and cultural well being in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and other Midwestern states. MODEC is one of 56 District Export Councils affiliated with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The non-profit organization helps small and mid-size businesses develop export programs.

For interviews & press credentials, contact Jeff Dunlap at PowerlinePR in St. Louis at 001.314.993.6925.